Firenze Italian Restaurant on the UES

A Cozy bit of Florence in Upper East Side Manhattan

UPDATE. Please note that this restaurant is closed for the moment, as they were affected by a fire next door according to their website.

I had an opportunity this winter to enjoy a personal lunch at Firenze Ristorante on the Upper East Side. The Firenze Italian restaurant has a warm, charming, authentic Italian feel to it ... which is made obvious by artifacts from the owner's place of origin ... Florence, Italy.

Along one of the walls there's a beautiful mural full of intricate detail depicting a birdseye view of a section of Florence.

Firenze is a cozy, well kept Tuscan restaurant, offering an assortment of Italian fare. The restaurant was started 35 years ago by the Donati family, which still runs the restaurant to this day.

It was early afternoon as we entered the restaurant along Second Avenue between 82nd and 83rd Streets. Generally the Yorkville section of the Upper East Side isn't a big weekday lunch destination, and since we had arrived well past the lunch rush, the restaurant was serving only a couple of parties. This made for a very relaxing meal with the added benefit of some privacy.

Tuscan Fare at Firenze Italian Restaurant UES

The menu included a well chosen, curated sampling of Tuscan fare. Given the wintry season, we decided to start with soup. I started with the Ribollita soup while my dining partner had the Tuscan soup. The Ribollita soup contained a savory mix of cannellini beans, celery, cabbage, tomato cooked in a chicken broth with several different herbs. The result was a hearty, medley of flavors that soothed while replenishing my body with nutrients.

I sensed my dinner companion was enjoying his soup as much as I was mine. We had stumbled upon Firenze and I would classify it as a nice find. Great for dates, get togethers with old friends, or just out for a good, old fashioned, authentic Italian meal.

Warm & Cozy Ambiance with Good Food & Service

The Italian restaurant ambiance was augmented by Dean Martin singing some old tunes in the background. And we ordered a couple of glasses of the house wine which was - of course - Chianti. The wine had a mellow, full bodied taste and was a nice accompaniment to the repast.

Our main entrees arrived after we had finished the soup. I had ordered the Filet Mignon with mushrooms while my friend ordered the Pappardelle with Meat Ragou. The sirloin was served a juicy rare, with the mushrooms cooked al dente and a flavorful sauce.

The meat dish was complemented with a mixture of cooked vegetables that included broccoli, cauliflower, spring onions and tomato. The whole ensemble was even better than it looks in the photo at right as the meat came apart as I bit into it, and the sauce provided a symphony of soft notes of taste. The vegetables were like a chaser, cleaning the palate.

My dining companion seemed to enjoy his Pappardelle and Ragou dish as much as I was enjoying mine and possibly more, as he didn't speak for the while he was interacting with his main entree.

All in all it was an enjoyable repast. But our respective duties called, so we settled up the bill and were on our way. Generally the prices were about as follows $25 for the Pappardelle Ragou, $35 for the Filet Mignon, the soups were about $10 and glasses of house wine went for $12 apiece. The food and service were both quite good, and the ambiance complementary to nearly any friendly get together.

As mentioned above, Firenze Restaurant is closed at the moment. According to their website they were affected with damage related to a fire next door. You can stay tuned for their re-opening by checking in on their website at www.firenzeny.com.

Dining on the Banks at the Boathouse

Central Park Boathouse Provides Bucolic Ambiance in Big Apple

About a month ago, I met an out-of-town guest for breakfast at the Central Park Boathouse. The Central Park Boathouse is one of the few venues that has remains a consistent treat not just to visiting guests, but resident hosts as well.

The Boathouse is located in the center of Central Park, north of the Great Lawn, just beyond Bethesda Fountain, along the winding roadway on the eastern side of the park. You can access it from 72nd Street, 76th or 79th Streets off Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side.

While I was there for brunch on this particular Sunday, my favorite time to visit the Central Park Boathouse is in the middle or late afternoon on a weekend for a glass or more of wine to wind down the day and the week with friends.

It's frequently crowded and takes a bit of patient waiting and strategic positioning, to get a seat to rest one's weary bones ... but once settled in ... it's an unbeatable venue for late afternoon relaxation. More later.

Mother's Day Restaurants In Manhattan

Restaurants For Brunch & Dinner on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown, East Village

Mother's Day isn't that far away [May 14th, 2017]. It's a good time to let your loved one know you care. Flowers, gifts and brunch or dinner are always welcome, as is any thoughtful gesture that provides some measure showing your appreciation of your mother or the mother of your children. After all, without mothers, we would all cease to be.

It's best to book a restaurant reservation for Mother's Day brunch, as on Mother's Day in Manhattan, many restaurants are full. So if you're thinking about eating out at a restaurant this Mother's Day on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown or East Village; it's best to do your research early, and call ahead to book Mother's Day restaurant reservations.

Mother's Day History - Restaurants In Manhattan

The origins of Mother's Day in the United States began with the efforts by Anna Jarvis in honor of her own mother. According to Wikipedia, Anna began the campaign in 1905 - the year her mother died - and in 1910 West Virginia was the first state to adopt it as a holiday. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson made the second Sunday in May as a national holiday to honor mothers.

Click this link to view a brief guide of Mother's Day restaurants in Manhattan where you will find links to Manhattan restaurants we've visited in the past or have reviewed. The restaurants we've reviewed include a mix of high, medium and budget priced restaurants that are spread throughout the borough and offer a large variety of ethnic cuisines. Enjoy.

NYC Cigar Bars - Upper East Side Manhattan

Bar & Books on the Upper East Side NYC

I’ve walked by the Bar & Books on Lexington Avenue numerous times, and occasionally stepped in to see what it looked like close up and to see who was there. So around the holidays, I had a special guest in town who is a bit of a cigar aficionado. After dinner one evening, we took a walk along Lexington Avenue looking at store windows on our way down to the Bar & Books between 72nd and 73rd Streets.

The Bar & Books takes reservations, which I had made just to be certain we’d be able to get in to enjoy a fine cigar to close out the evening. It was a weekday night, so as it turned out, it wasn’t necessary, and we found a table just off the bar in the center of the establishment.

An attractive woman, with the look of a James Bond ‘girl’, waited on us. My friend had a Macallan 12 year scotch, while I ordered a glass of Malbec wine. We settled in, checking our coats and keeping our bags on the chairs of the table next to us. The walls of the Lexington Avenue Bar & Books are lined with shelves of books, which I suppose you could read if you were inclined to read Rabkin A. Johnson’s Current Legal Forms with Tax Analysis - which I can only imagine would be the case in the worst of circumstances - and tonight was no such night.

Poetry in Steak: Arlington Club Manhattan

Steak Restaurants on the Upper East Side NYC

Twas one of the nights before Christmas, as I left the house. Plenty of people were stirring and walking about. I headed uptown from the Village that day, to meet an old friend who was only miles away ...

This holiday jingle came to mind as I embarked on an uptown subway to meet an old friend, who is also a published poet. I was running a bit later than I had planned, but made it to the Arlington Club on Lexington Avenue between 73rd and 74th Street only a few minutes late. As I walked up Lexington I noticed his silhouette in the distance. He was the man in the long dark coat and a Borsalino hat.

We greeted each other casually, and after a few brief exchanges, made our way into the restaurant. The Arlington Club is a large, gracious restaurant, with an airy feeling. The main dining area rests sublimely under cathedral ceilings and encased window lighting. The interior design is modern, while evoking the classicism of a culinary beaux-arts temple.

There’s balcony seating on the upper level, which provides greater privacy, and as fate would luckily have it, without any degradation of attention or service. Since we’d made reservations we didn’t have to wait, but the bar along the front right wall appeared inviting, particularly the seats near the front of the restaurant with a street-level view of Lexington Avenue. The Maitre d’ escorted us upstairs and seated us comfortably in a hearty upholstered chair and a booth seat.

Our holiday conversation began as we played catch up on business matters, kids and spouses, and siblings and parents. Our waitress this evening was Lauren, and her service was impeccable. She guided us through the menu, mentioning the specials and favorites, and then adroitly parrying our questions. My poetic friend ordered the Greek salad for an appetizer and the Filet Mignon for the main course. I selected the Crab Cakes and the Double-Cut Lamb Chops.

Manhattan Halloween Parties - Manhattan NYC

With only six days to go before Halloween, we decided to do a round up of some of the Halloween parties planned in Manhattan.

The weather on Friday and Saturday evenings preceding Halloween this year is expected to be about ten degrees warmer than usual - meaning in the 60's during the day and in the 50's at nigh in Manhattan. No rain is expected on either of the two weekend nights.

* The Village Halloween Parade starts at 7 pm at Spring Street and 6th Avenue and marches north to 16th Street on Tuesday, October 31st. It lasts in the neighborhood of three to four hours with the official end time at 10.30 pm. We've heard that there are over 30 musical groups and an innumerable showing of creative costumes.

The following is a short list of Manhattan Halloween parties at local bars, restaurants and arts and public venues will be added over time. In most cases we suggest that you call ahead and rsvp a spot to be sure you get in.

French Restaurants on the Upper East Side

D'Orsay Restaurant - French Brasseries on the Upper East Side UES

It was the night before Thanksgiving as I hurriedly made my way up Lexington Avenue along Manhattan’s Upper East Side. It was cold and drizzling a mix of rain and sleet as I finally arrived at d’Orsay French restaurant.

The name, d’Orsay, comes from Paris where there’s a Museum named Musee d’Orsay. In tracing back the name, I found it was attributed to a Count d’Orsay circa the early 1800’s who was considered a ‘man of fashion’. The Palais d’Orsay previously occupied the site of the Museum which was a beaux arts train station erected around the turn into the 20th century. D’Orsay is a surname associated with a small town just outside of Paris, and the name meant that you were ‘from Orsay’.

The restaurant has a warm feel to it. High ceilings, a long open wooden bar and solid ceramic tile floors welcomed me in from the cold night. It was to be a late dinner, so the hubbub of rush hour / primetime had passed. Most folks had settled into their repast some time before I arrived.

I saw my dining companions seated in the windowed dining alcove along 75th Street. As they were close relatives who had started without me, I felt relieved of the need to apologize for a belated arrival. The waiting staff was attentive, without being intrusive, as we settled into the comfortable Upper East Side brasserie.

Finnegan’s Wake Pub

Irish Restaurants on the Upper East Side

Finnegan’s Wake Pub on the Upper East Side is a traditional neighborhood Irish pub. There’s Irish fare including chicken pot pies, meatloaves, and bacon cheeseburgers. It sports a mid century décor which complements the age of the crowd. It’s comfortable, casual and serves generally good food, which is good value for the money.

The Irish restaurant appetizers range from $3 - $14, sandwiches range from $6 to $15, burgers range from $9 to $12 for a platter, and main entrée platters range from $15 - $25. There’s outdoor seating.

Finnegan’s Wake Pub is open from 11 am – 1 am daily.

Finnegan’s Wake Pub is located at 1361 1st Ave between 72nd and 73rd Streets [10021] on the Upper East Side UES.
Tel. 212.737.3664
Website at finneganswakepubnyc .com

Murphy’s Law

Irish Pubs on the Upper East Side

Murphy’s is an Irish neighborhood pub with burgers and sandwiches. Most folks like the drinks and compare the food to a respectable American diner. Murphy’s Law pub is usually quite popular during important televised [sports] events, frequently during which time they run drink specials. And given the Irish pub and restaurant is near the hospital, they offer a discounted rate [10%] to hospital employees. Both Memorial Sloan Kettering and Rockefeller University Hospitals are located in the neighborhood.

The Irish Pub appetizers are $7 - $14 and sandwiches are $10 to $17 and main entrée platters are $16 to $28.

Murphy’s Law Irish Pub and Restaurant is open from 11 am-4 am daily.

Murphy’s Law is located at 417 E 70th Street between 1st and York on the Upper East Side UES.
Tel. 212.628.3724
WS. Murphyslawnewyork.com

Irish Pubs In Manhattan

Irish Restaurants On St. Patrick's Day In NYC, UES, UWS, Midtown & Village

St. Patrick’s Day is upon us once again and it’s time for one and all, regardless of genetic history, to don their green clothing and head out to the Irish bars for a pint of ale or to the Irish restaurants for some down home Irish fare … or something like that.

This report is about some of the Manhattan Irish bars and restaurants that have survived the test of time, and likely a might bit … more. The Irish pubs include Irish bars and restaurants from the Upper East Side [UES], the Upper West Side [UWS], Midtown Manhattan as well as the East Village, as McSorley's remains not just a pub, but a good piece of history.

Romantic Places For Valentines Dinner in Manhattan on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown, East Village, West Village, SoHo, Tribeca & the Lower East Side

Valentine's Day is about a week away. It's a good time to let your loved one know you care. Flowers, gifts and dinner are always welcome treats, and / or some thoughtful gesture that shows that the lady [or man] you're with still means a lot to you.

It's generally hard to make restaurant reservations on short notice at a romantic Manhattan restaurant on Valentine's Day, and sometimes it's difficult to make them for the weekend preceding Valentine's Day. So if you're thinking about doing something this Valentine's Day for dinner on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown or East Village; it's best to do your research early, and call a week or at least a few days ahead to make the reservations.

Valentine's Day History - Romantic Restaurants In Manhattan

The origins of Valentine's Day are not well documented. It's believed to have been named after Saint Valentine who was apparently a Catholic martyr who died over 1500 years ago. Today the holiday is not associated with religion so much as flowers, candies, cards and romantic dinners. And the holiday spokesperson is now Cupid, a Roman god of desire, and quite a mischief maker.

Click this link to view a brief guide of Valentine's Day restaurants in Manhattan where you will find links to Manhattan restaurants we've visited in the past or have reviewed. The restaurants we've reviewed include a mix of high, medium and budget priced restaurants that are spread throughout the borough and offer a large variety of ethnic cuisines. Enjoy.

Viand Cafe

UES - Closed 1011 Madison Avenue Location

UWS - Newer Viand Cafe in Beacon Hotel

This Greek diner has been on Madison Avenue near 78th Street on the upper east side since the late sixties. Known for its diner style breakfasts, lunches and dinners it had become a neighborhood staple for decades.

In April of 2015 the owners decided to close the restaurant for economic reasons. Among the issues cited in a local press report were the cost of rent and lower pedestrian traffic.

The owners of Viand opened a second location on the Upper West Side in the newly refurbished Beacon Hotel at 2130 Broadway at 75th Street on the Upper West Side UWS. The Greek diner on the ground floor of the Beacon Hotel is open from 6 am to 2am daily.

EAT - Eliza Zabar's Cafe

UES - Cafes on the Upper East Side

EAT is located at 1064 Madison Avenue - just north of 80th street - on the upper east side. Zabar's deli and bakery has been in business since 1973, serving as a nearby nosh place for Met Museum visitors.

Louis Zabar immigrated to the U.S. from Russia in the early 1920's. Over the course of the next thirty years he became the owner of ten food markets. Following his death, his wife and three sons evolved his food store holdings into two separate organizations - Zabars which includes the gourmet food store on the upper west side and Eli Zabars [the youngest son] which includes EAT.

Poetry in Steak: Arlington Club Manhattan

Steak Restaurants on the Upper East Side NYC

Twas one of the nights before Christmas, as I left the house. Plenty of people were stirring and walking about. I headed uptown from the Village that day, to meet an old friend who was only miles away ...

This holiday jingle came to mind as I embarked on an uptown subway to meet an old friend, who is also a published poet. I was running a bit later than I had planned, but made it to the Arlington Club on Lexington Avenue between 73rd and 74th Street only a few minutes late. As I walked up Lexington I noticed his silhouette in the distance. He was the man in the long dark coat and a Borsalino hat.

We greeted each other casually, and after a few brief exchanges, made our way into the restaurant. The Arlington Club is a large, gracious restaurant, with an airy feeling. The main dining area rests sublimely under cathedral ceilings and encased window lighting. The interior design is modern, while evoking the classicism of a culinary beaux-arts temple.

There’s balcony seating on the upper level, which provides greater privacy, and as fate would luckily have it, without any degradation of attention or service. Since we’d made reservations we didn’t have to wait, but the bar along the front right wall appeared inviting, particularly the seats near the front of the restaurant with a street-level view of Lexington Avenue. The Maitre d’ escorted us upstairs and seated us comfortably in a hearty upholstered chair and a booth seat.

Our holiday conversation began as we played catch up on business matters, kids and spouses, and siblings and parents. Our waitress this evening was Lauren, and her service was impeccable. She guided us through the menu, mentioning the specials and favorites, and then adroitly parrying our questions. My poetic friend ordered the Greek salad for an appetizer and the Filet Mignon for the main course. I selected the Crab Cakes and the Double-Cut Lamb Chops.

French Restaurants on the Upper East Side

D'Orsay Restaurant - French Brasseries on the Upper East Side UES

It was the night before Thanksgiving as I hurriedly made my way up Lexington Avenue along Manhattan’s Upper East Side. It was cold and drizzling a mix of rain and sleet as I finally arrived at d’Orsay French restaurant.

The name, d’Orsay, comes from Paris where there’s a Museum named Musee d’Orsay. In tracing back the name, I found it was attributed to a Count d’Orsay circa the early 1800’s who was considered a ‘man of fashion’. The Palais d’Orsay previously occupied the site of the Museum which was a beaux arts train station erected around the turn into the 20th century. D’Orsay is a surname associated with a small town just outside of Paris, and the name meant that you were ‘from Orsay’.

The restaurant has a warm feel to it. High ceilings, a long open wooden bar and solid ceramic tile floors welcomed me in from the cold night. It was to be a late dinner, so the hubbub of rush hour / primetime had passed. Most folks had settled into their repast some time before I arrived.

I saw my dining companions seated in the windowed dining alcove along 75th Street. As they were close relatives who had started without me, I felt relieved of the need to apologize for a belated arrival. The waiting staff was attentive, without being intrusive, as we settled into the comfortable Upper East Side brasserie.

Fresh Pasta Made Daily In NYC

used to be heavily populated with Italian immigrants, particularly in the first half of the 20th century. They brought with them their knowledge and skills about food and wine, the products of which became, in time, a part of the American culture.

This is a report about the Cassinelli Food Products company. It's one of the last old world Italian pasta making companies in Queens. The Cassinelli pasta company makes fresh pasta in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens daily.

Greek Food In Manhattan NYC

Titan Foods Has Been Importing Greek Foods Into Manhattan NYC For Decades

Astoria has long been known as the Greek section of Queens and NYC. And for nearly 30 years Titan Foods has been serving the Greek section of Queens and NYC with imported Greek food. In 1991 Optima Foods, which is owned by the same folks as Titan, began operating as a mid sized importer and since that time has grown to become one of the leading distributors of Greek food along the eastern seaboard of the United States.

Organic Food & Organic Food Stores In Manhattan NYC

I’ve been doing research on local organic / all natural food for some time. I recently had the opportunity to interview an "organic insider", Metin Mangut who is one of the managing partners of a local supermarket which is an organic / all natural food store in Long Island City. Metin shared with me some of his insights into the changing landscape of organic, all natural and conventional foods.

Archives - TBD

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